Electric lamp.



' E. WEINTRAUB.

ELECTRIC LAMP. 4

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1902.

1,086,103, Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Fig.|.

-E INVEHTOR.

ran srrrrns Parana onetime EZECHIEL WEINTRAUB, F SCHENEOTADY,,1\TEN YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COM?ANY, A CORPORATION 0F NETV YORK.

ELECTRIC LAMP.

6 of New York,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

The invention which I have hereinafter described and claimed relates to methods of 19 producing light by electricity and to certain improvements in electric lamps of that type in which electrical energy is converted into light through the medium of vaporous or gaseous matter maintained in a luminescent condition by the electric current. In an application filed concurrently herewith, I have described and have claimed broadly certain features of invention whereby a lamp of this character may be started into operation, together with other correlated features unnecessary here to mention. In the present application I propose to disclose certain arrangements for securing automatic operation ofthe lamp, the novel features of which arrangements will be pointed out in the following specification, in which- Figure 1 represents one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 2 a modified detail and Fig. 3 a different form of the invention.

I will premise my description of these detailed arrangements by stating that in lamps of the general character mentioned, various difficulties and disadvantages have heretofore been attendant upon the means employed for starting the arc. The usual method of starting. of which of course there are various modifications, is to impress upon the terminals of the lamp, for a certain period or periods, a high electromotive force, many times greater in value than the normal electromotive force at which the lamp is intended to operate. This starting electromo tive force apparently operates to break down the high initial resistancebetween the electrodes of the lamp whereupon the lamp starts.

My present invention, among other valuable features, provides means operating automatically upon turning on the currentwhereby a lamp of the type mentioned will start into operation by the utilization of electromotive force no greater than that impressed upon the lamp circuit by the supply mains. The starting is performed by producing locally within the lamp ionized vapor Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 95,662.

which, by the migration of its ions or by some other operation the nature of which is not'known with certainty, permits the application of the normal voltage to the terminals oi the lamp to start the lamp into operation. After the lamp has been started, the supplemental or auxiliary source of ionized vapor may be cut out of circuit and to perform this function as well as to initiate antomatically the production of ionized vapor, I may make use of the arrangements shown in the drawings above referred to.

Referring to Fig. 1, the lamp will be seen to consist of a main tube 1 of indefinite length, indicated by the dotted lines 2. At either end of the lamp are electrodes, the lower electrode consisting in the present instance of a body of mercury filling a narrow downward extension 4 of the lamp and also a small portion of the main body of the tube as indicated. In the upper portion of the tube is located the other main electrode, consisting of a somewhat bell-shaped body 7 of suitable material as metal or graphite. This elect-rode communicates through a sealed-in wire 8 with a body of mercury 9 contained in an exhausted chamber 10 out of which extends a wire 11 sealed through the walls or" the chamber, the projecting end of the wire forming one of the external terminals of the lamp. The lamp itself is exhausted to high a degree of vacuum as possible, the process of preparing and evacuating a lamp being set forth in the application above referred to, which process however forms no portion of the invention claimed herein. That the vacuum thus produced may be maintained in as perfect a condition as possible, the electrode 7 is connected with the exterior terminal 11 through the evacuated chamber 10 as a precautionary measure.

Communicating with the main tube 1 is a chamber 12 of somewhatcylindrical shape, the lower end of which is contracted as at 13 and filled with mercury up to the level suflicient to cover the connecting neck 14 of the tube and thereby afi'ord electrical connection hausted. Located within proper relation to this iron rod or bunch of wires is a solenoid 16 which, when energized, is adapted to withdraw the tube containing the iron core to a greater or less extent out of the mercury in which it is partially immersed. In order that the movements of this tube within its inclosing chamber shall-not endanger the walls of the chamber, the tube is provided at its ends'with springs 1718 adapted to serve as bufi'ers. In order to render the displacement of the tube 16 as great as possible, the spaces between the iron and the tube may be filled with mercury.

Current may be supplied to the lamp fromv a suitable source of current, and connection therewith may be made by mains indicated at 19 and 20. One of these vmains, as the main 19, may be connected to the lower terminal 5 of the lamp, while the other main 20 through a switch 21 may be connected to the upper terminal 11 of the lamp. The lead extending from the switch 21 is connected through the fixed contacts 22 and 23 of a cut-out apparatus 24 to a sealed-in terminal 25 of the lamp which terminal communicates with the mercury in the tubular cham ber 12 and forms an auxiliary or supplemental electrode for the lamp, the terminals 5 and 11 acting as the main terminals during operation.

In series with the circuit between the main- 20 and the auxiliary terminal 25 is the solenoid 16 and a current limiting resistance 26. The main terminal 11 of the lamp is connected to the same supply lead as the auxiliary terminal 25 and the conductor forming this connection includes therein a resistance'27 and the solenoid ormagnct 28 of a cut-out device 24, which magnet acts upon a core 29 carrying a bridging contact adapted when no current flows in the solenoid or magnet to bridge over the fixed contacts 22 and 23, and to break this bridging connection when current does flow in the magnet or solenoid.

In the operation of starting the lamp, the switch 21 may be closed, thereby first causing current to pass through the solenoid 16 and through the body of mercury in the lamp to the other terminal of the source of current. limited in value by the resistance 26, causes the tube 16 to be lifted out of the mercury by the action of the solenoid 16', thereby lowering the level of the mercury and opening the circuit through the same at or about the point 30. The resulting are or discharge which takes place causes a liberation of mercury ions which operate to set up the flow of current through the main tube between the main electrodes of the lamp. As soon as this current commences to flow. the

branch current initially flowing into the The resulting current, which is lamp at the terminal 25 and maintains the same out of circuit until the main current is for any reason interrupted, whereupon the operation above described is repeated.

Instead of inclosingthe iron constituting the armature or core of the solenoid 16 in a glass tube, it may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, to be movable longitudinally of a guiding tube 31 located as shown within the chamber 12. Both ends of the armature may be provided with bufier springs indicated. at 32 and 33. The guiding tube 31 has a small opening 34 communicating, above the surface of the mercury, with the chamber 12 whereby its contents may be evacuated when the evacuation of the main tube takes place.

In Fig. 3 is shown a different arrangement for securing an automaticstarting of the one of the supply mains 20 and the supplemental electrode 35. A resistance 39 connects the electrode 35 with the other supply main 19. When the main switch 40 is closed, the solenoid 38 attracts its core 37 carried by the lamp which maybe suspended by the ring 41 or otherwise so that it may swing. vl/Vith proper adjustment of parts the motion produced by the solenoid 38 causes a momentarv flow of the mercury between the electrodes 34-and 35 so as to connect the same. which flow, as it recedes, opens the cir-"' cuit between the electrodes and springs an are. setting free the ionized mercury vapor which operates to start up themain tube. As soon as the main current commences to flow, a cut-out 42, arranged and connected like the cut-out 24 in Fig. 1. opens the circuit of the solenoid 38 and renders the same in-- active until the current through the lamp ceases to flow, whereupon if the switch 40 still be closed to the mains, the operation above described is repeated. &

In the lamps which I have above described, the electrodes at the upper end of each lamp. as represented at 7 in Fig. 1 and at 43 in Fig. 3. may be madcot' any one of a number of different materials such as iron or graphite. Of these I prefer the latter since it does not readily occlude gases. or, if it does, then it readily gives them up; nor does it, when heated. undergo chemical change such as to generate gases. thereby impairing the vacuum of the lamp.

Although the automatic cut-out to which .l have heretofore ref d may not, as desired, to interrupt the x tel or auxiliary circuit, it need no when used in this connection, be arranged to interrupt the circuit but may, under certain conditions, be employed to vary the resist ance of this circuit by opening or closing; short circuit about a portion or all or" he resistance in this supplemental circuit; further it may, if desired, be adjusted n to perform these functions at any selecteo current value. lhus if it is desired to run current in the main tube at a low value, for example, the cut-out may be arranged so as to short-circuit a portion of the resistance in the supplemental circuit, thereby increasing the current flow therein and maintaining stable operation of the lamp at the selected low current value. Gr it. may be adjusted to reduce the supplemental circuit current when the main arc starts, as when the'main arc is in operation the supplemental arc will run on lower current.

What I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination in a vapor electric apparatus containing a conducting liquid, of a main circuit terminal in contact With said liquid, a supplemental starting circuit terminal engaging said liquid, and automatic means responsive to an application oi": poten tial to said apparatus for separating said conducting liquid into two portions to form a main electrode and. a startin electrode,

The combination *ith supply mai a vapor electric apparatus connected and comprising a tube, a pair of mm trodes mounted in said tube and having an unobstructed passage between them, said electrodes being at no time subjected to an 'electromotive force: higher than that of said supply mains, a supplemental electrode, and automatic means for causing current to flow between said supplemental electrode and one of said main electrodes to produce a start inc arc in said tube.

2%. T he combination with supply mains, of

a vapor electric apparatus connected thereto and comprising a tube, main electrodes located therein and, having a straight and unobstructed pr'sage between tacm, shid electrodes being no time subjected to electromr-tive force higher than that of said supply mains, a supplemental electrode, and electrically controlled means responsive to the electromotive force of said supply mains for producing a starting arc in said tube.

Jr. The combination with supply mains, of a vapor electric apparatus comprising a tube, main electrodes therein having a straight and unobstructed passage between them, a supplemental electrode arranged so to make and break contact with one of said main electrodes, and connections between said electrodes and said supply mains Wher by -the electromotive force impressed upon said e ectrodes at no time in excess of that of the supply mains.

The combination of an exhausted envelop, a cathode therefor adapted to emit vapor, and a cooperating anode of graphite.

6. The combination With a straight tubuopposite ends of said envelop, a side chambi opening out of said envelop in alin'ement w one of said main electrodes and out of alinement with the other, a supplemental electrode in said side chamber, and means operating by the agency of said supplemental electrode tor-momentarily causing a loalized production of ionized vapor insaid envelop.

7. The combination with an exhausted envelop, main electrodes therefor, a supplemental mercury electrode adjacent one of said main electrodes, and electrically controlled means for varying the level of said mercury electrode to make and break contact between said supplemental electrode and the adjacent main elect-rode.

8. In a gas or vapor electric apparatus of the character described, the combination of a liquid negative electrode, a supplemental positive electrode mounted adjacent the edge of said negative electrode, a Working positive electrode mounted perpendicularly above the surface of said negative electrode and directly exposed thereto, means for bringin said supplemental positive electrode into contact with the negative electrode, means for automatically separating said electrodes when current flows through the apparatus to draw an are substantially parallel to the surface of said negative electrode and simultaneously causing current to between the ne ativ'e electrode and said 5 Working positive electrode.

9. A mercury vapor arc lamp comprising a container for'mercury, electrodes or contacts in said container normally connected by the mercury in said container, means to separate the mercury between said electrodes or contacts to start thelamp andaresistance ar esuausted envelop, main electrodes at controlling the flow 0' current through the lamp, substantially as set forth.

1!). ln a'gas or vapor apparatus of the character described, the combination of a liquid negative electrode, a liquid positive elec "ode adjoining said negative electrode, a main positive electrode mounted directly above said. negative electrode in a position to be directly exposed thereto, means for causing said liquid electrodes to coalesce and to separate, and means brought into operation by the separation of said liquid electrodes for automatically substituting the other positive electrode for the liquid positive electrode Y i 11. In a vapor electric, apparatus, the

combination. of an exhausted envelop, main electrodes therefor one at least of which is vaporizable, and a magnetically controlled supplemental liquid electrode brought into and out of contact with one of said main electrodes by variations in level.

12. The combination of an exhausted en. velop, a main anode therein, a vaporizable liquid cathode, a supplemental liquid anode mounted adjacent said cathode to make and break contact therewith, and'magnetic means for varying the level of said liquid electrode to control the relation thereof.

13. Tlie combination ofan exhausted envelop, a main anode therein, a mercury cathode consisting of a body of mercury separable into two distinct parts, a positive terminal connected to one of said parts, a dis- "placing device for controlling the level of said body of mercury and electro-magnetic means for withdrawing said displacing device from said body of mercury to separate said body and thereby form an are between the mercury connected to said positive terminal and the mercury cathode.

In witness whereofI have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of February, 1902.

EZECHIEL WEINTRAUB. W itnesses:

I ALEX F. MACDONALD,

HELEN Oeronn. 

